Lucas Leiva signing thread

[Red_Polo]

That's the spirit!!

---------------Red Pole (The Dude)------
Fredo----Codemon---Anfieldfoever---RedHot
AF----Shaggy--Thomasij--Lecter
---------------Pele
----------Milkman---MrMichael


Just pass the ball to Pelé FFS!!

Surely Neil Young picks himself as a left winger?

[thesilverfoxlfc]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1w9t4_lucas-pezzini-compilation

[Sir Bob]

Ahrgh! For me it's about balance. The first Chelsea CL game was a perfect example. Gerrard at RM running all over the pitch. Alonso/Mascher falling too deep and the only outlead was our left side (Zenden).

To keep balance we need a RM who stays wide. We are way too easy to shutdown if we can't keep our formation. If we had a team where Gerrard could roam and another player would slide into his RM position then; "great"! But we don't, do we? We suffer from chronic constipation through our CM when we play with Gerrard at RM. It's way way too easy to predict and shutdown for the better sides. It doesn't help that we have a RB who doens't venture forward that much. Finnan likes to cross from the middle of the opponents half. He rarely goes all the way to the backline allthough it happens at times of course. Against good teams he always sits deep! Anyway, this has resulted in 8 assists this season, which on all accounts is a good number but also in just one (1!) shot on goal. With Gerrard on the other side of the pitch or at center you can be damn sure that Finnan is staying home!

Another issue is the lack of dynamic force through the midfield when Alonso/Mascher (Mono) plays there. Zero goalthreat. Zero bite and aggression on the final third.

For balance, width, bite and goalthreat we need Gerrard at CM.

Great post mate.
Our midfield is terribly unbalanced at times. Our best RM is a CM (SG), our best LM is a full back (JAR) and our 3 CM couldn't hit a cows arse with a banjo (Momo, Alonso & Masher)

We need two proper wide players, who can provide the width and balance we so badly need. They don't have to be out & out wingers but players who are used to that position and aren't looking to cut inside everytime they get the ball. Pederson at blackburn is a classic example. He's a solid player with a sweet left foot who is dangerous from set pieces but also puts in good crosses from open play. However he also does his share of defensive work.

This would allow SG to play in the centre were he is more dangerous. Yes, we would be a little more open but to win the league we need to be more offensive, particularly away from home against the lesser teams. United just steamroller the opposition with their fast paced breakaway game. We are positively pedestrian in comparison. Of course in certain games you need to be a bit more circumspect but against lesser teams we don't go for the jugular enough.

[marcus50bucks]

Momo is only 23

He can improve his game

IMO hes bady off form at the minute late last season and earlier on in the season his short passing had improved dramatically

Sissoko is 22

22/Jan/1985

[kopash]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1w...ni-compilation

thanks for that

Obviously highlight clips are not the best way to judge a player but from that it seems he is a cool finisher happy to side foot the ball and also when he shoots from distance he doesn't seem to have much backlift.

Looks more an attacking midfielder than a defensive one too - a bit of a box-to-box player perhaps

[Jimbob]

The most encouraging thing for me in this, Is the fact we have now signed two of the most highly rated youngsters in the world (Lucas and Leto).. This can only be a good thing. Now for one maybe two established stars and i think thats a good summer all in all.

[thesilverfoxlfc]

thanks for that

Obviously highlight clips are not the best way to judge a player but from that it seems he is a cool finisher happy to side foot the ball and also when he shoots from distance he doesn't seem to have much backlift.

Looks more an attacking midfielder than a defensive one too - a bit of a box-to-box player perhaps

Your right but its nice to see what he's about and look like

[FowlerLeftFoot]

maybe we should offload xabi instead, using him in a part-exchange for eto with barcelona.....he has been off form for the past 2 seasons

[tomasjj]

On a more serious note if we get a good offer for Sissoko we should sell. I recognise his attributes and effectiveness in certain situations - but taking the rose tinted specs off for a minute - he just doesn't have the techincal ability to be a midfielder at the highest level. We need all of our outfield players to be comfortable in possession, and have at least a moderate to good passing ability.

I am inclined to agree with this.
Momo is limited, as is Crouch (ducks for cover), and if we are able to hold on to them and keep them happy by playing them sporadicly, fine, if not I would sell for decent money.

[tomasjj]

maybe we should offload xabi instead, using him in a part-exchange for eto with barcelona.....he has been off form for the past 2 seasons

No way, mate.
Xabi is a cornerstone, and his form has been no worse than a lot of other so called stars we have.

[Johnny]

Xabi is the most sought of our (Sellable)players by other teams.He would be perfect in a swap deal for Alves,Simao.Villa,E`to or Torres + cash which would increase our chances of signing one of them.

[kopash]

I'd hate to lose Xabi but if it brings us a quality player for another position in, I'd do it.

[kurtangle01]

He's brilliant in FM 2007

Sign him up!

[tomasjj]

I'd hate to lose Xabi but if it brings us a quality player for another position in, I'd do it.

Why, when we don't have to?
We have the cash now, and should not be looking to sell our best players.

[kopash]

Agree but other big clubs may not be interested in cash deals